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Nest boxes placed in trees

 

On Tuesday 17th January nine nest boxes painted by students from Coburns Primary School were placed in trees beside Arnolds Creek by environmental contractors Western Land Services, on behalf of Melton Environment Group.

The nest boxes had been built for Melton Environment Group by Melton Mens Shed. The boxes were built with holes of 2 different diameters, to suit different wildlife. These should suit a variety of local wildlife including: parrots, corellas, galahs, ducks, kookaburras, owls and possums etc. These boxes were built from recycled timber, making this project an innovative example of practical recycling; as well as providing homes for local wildlife along Arnolds Creek.

The nest boxes are beautifully painted and the students have displayed both imagination and artistic talent, under the guidance of teacher Mel Spencer. They have been painted in environmental themes including brightly coloured flowers, birds, dragonflies and other insects, possums, lizards and other wildlife etc.

One of the students asked where the nestboxes were going. When told that they would be placed at least 4-5 metres from the ground in trees he then asked:

‘Why didn’t we paint the bottoms?”

The nest boxes were returned to the students to complete the job, as they suggested. A good example of why we should listen to young people!

The nest boxes were placed in trees, at least 4 metres from the ground, by Melton Environment Group corporate member Western Land Services, funded by a World Environment Day grant from Melton Shire in 2011. The boxes were placed in the trees in accordance with guidelines from LaTrobe University, facing east so they will enjoy the morning sun but protected from the harsh afternoon sun by the tree trunk.

Melton Environment Group is grateful to Melton Shire for providing environmental grants of $1000 each to five local community environmental volunteer groups.

This project is an excellent example of a community environmental group working in partnership with other community groups, schools, local authorities and local business to improve the natural environment of our local waterways.

The distinctively painted boxes will remain brilliantly coloured tributes to the students who painted them so imaginatively. They are not only homes for wildlife but works of art! These will not only be habitat for wildlife but examples of community art. Where else will you see wildlife nesting inside works of art?

 

 

 

 

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